EACH announces A Taste of Norfolk at Houghton Hall

East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) is delighted to announce details of a gala dinner at the Norfolk Estate, Houghton Hall.

The event, entitled A Taste of Norfolk, is being hosted by The Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley on Wednesday 22nd June, with all guests invited as a special thank you for supporting the charity’s nook appeal.

EACH is also extremely proud to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge, as Royal Patron of EACH, will be attending with The Duke of Cambridge.

EACH provides vital services caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia and supporting their families. The nook appeal is the charity’s campaign to raise £10 million to transform children’s palliative care across Norfolk, including building a new hospice called the nook.

Graham Butland, Chief Executive said: “A Taste of Norfolk is a truly unprecedented event for EACH and has only been made possible following many months of hard work and dedication from our voluntary committee, led by our Patron Emma Deterding and Philippa Pease of Purple Chilli Events. We want to say a huge thank you to Emma and all the committee members who have worked so tirelessly, and to the many companies and individuals who have so generously shown their support.”

A special five course meal will be served with courses created and cooked by five world renowned chefs: Galton Blackiston, Sat Bains, Claude Bosi, Tom Kerridge and Mark Edwards. The evening will also feature a number of exclusive highlights for guests, beginning with a champagne reception featuring musical entertainment by the Jefford Brothers and Sam Aldersey-Williams and magician Archie Manners.

The EACH Treehouse Choir will be performing after dinner followed by a speech from parent Charlotte Markham. Charlotte and her family received care and support from EACH in Ipswich when her son Elliot died at just a few hours old.

The dinner will be brought to a close with speeches from critically acclaimed author and EACH Ambassador Anthony Horowitz OBE and The Marquess of Cholmondeley. Anthony has been an Ambassador of EACH since 2008 and is passionate about the work of the charity. He recently visited the existing hospice in Quidenham to find out more about the plans for the nook and why a new building in Norfolk is so important for care delivery.

EACH Patron and event organiser Emma Deterding said: “Having been a Patron of EACH for over 25 years, I am proud to be part of something so inspirational. I have seen at first hand how incredible and important the development of the children’s hospice movement is since its beginnings in the 1980s. I continue to be amazed by how hard EACH works to ensure that hundreds of children with life-threatening conditions and their families in East Anglia get the best care possible. The passion and commitment that the staff demonstrates and the care they offer both in the hospices and the community is inspiring and humbling in equal measure.

“I would like to thank Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for agreeing to join us for this amazing evening. Special thanks are also due to The Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley for so generously offering us Houghton Hall as a venue.

“There have been so many companies and individuals who have generously and graciously shown their support. We are so grateful.”

EACH has outgrown its current hospice in Quidenham, due to demand and the changing and more complex needs of the children and young people they care for.

The nook will be built on a five-acre woodland site in Framingham Earl just south of Norwich and will offer services which are either currently unavailable or extremely limited at Quidenham hospice such as a hydrotherapy pool, music studio, large rooms for on-site family support groups, larger and more accessible outside space for children to explore and play and private rooms for one-to-one counselling.

Emma Deterding said: “The nook is now one step closer and we are incredibly grateful to all our guests for donating significant money towards the building of the new hospice. We want everyone to spread the word about the amazing work of EACH and desperately need the nook to become a reality as soon as possible.”

Ends

Notes to Editors
• We support families and care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

• More than 700 children, young people and family members are currently receiving care and support at EACH, including over 300 from the hospice at Quidenham in Norfolk.

• We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our income and each year need to raise more than £5 million from fundraising and £2.5 million from our shops. We also need to raise £10 million to develop our hospice services in Norfolk, including a new hospice. We have so far secured over £2.5 million towards the appeal’s target.

• We offer families flexibility and control over where they receive their care and support, including where their child dies; at home, in hospital or at one of three hospices at Milton (Cambridge), Quidenham (Norfolk) and The Treehouse (Ipswich).

• Our services include specialist nursing care, symptom management support, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies and counselling; all meeting the individual needs of the child, young person and whole family.

• We are recognised as leaders in our field, with a reputation for excellence and commitment to pioneering development and innovation.

• EACH Royal Patron – Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

• For more information about EACH, including forthcoming events and how you can help raise funds, visit www.each.org.uk

The play specialists are excellent and I also get inspiration from the activities they organise.Heather, Lucy’s mum

EACH helps us to create lovely memories and has played an important part in all of our lives, not just Lucy’s.Heather, Lucy’s mum

I really love going to the hospice. I’ve made friends there and get to do loads of fun stuff.Renee

EACH helped us with coping mechanisms and special ways of remembering Stanley.Brad, Stanley's Dad

When we first heard about the hospice we were apprehensive because we didn’t know what to expect. When we got there we realised it was a lovely place where Renee would be well looked after, and we would be able to have a much-needed break.Stacy, Renee’s mum

Children like Lucy don’t get the opportunity to go to sleepovers or to their friends for tea, so the interaction she has at the hospice is priceless.Heather, Lucy’s mum

Renee loves going to The Treehouse, but it’s great that care staff are also able to visit us at home too.Stacy, Renee’s mum

I can’t imagine what it would have been like. Nobody should have to, every family should be offered the support we were, and are still gettingClaire, Jacob’s mum

I didn’t realise hope was a gift until I became a mum. My little boy taught me many things and that was one of themClaire, Jacob’s mum

We arrived at the hospice feeling scared and alone. We had so many questions – they answered them all and more.Claire, Jacob’s mum

EACH supports families when they’re at their absolute lowest, helping them to come to terms with their child’s illness, losing them and beyondBrad, Stanley's Dad

We are also supported by the 24/7 True Colours nurses and it’s so reassuring knowing we can call on them whenever we need support or adviceHelen, William’s mum

EACH has helped us keep Stanley’s memory alive. And allows us to look to the futureBrad, Stanley's Dad

It’s been a great opportunity to meet other parents in a similar situation, something that doesn't really happen anywhere else.Helen, William’s mum